Metal-bending machine



T. mEGEL. METAL BENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY H. 191?.

Patented May 20, 1919.

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T. BRIEGEL.

METAL BENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION mso um' 1911- 1,304,1 52. f Patented' Maj 20, 1919.

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T. BRIEGEL.

METAL BENDING MACHINE.

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Patented May 20, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED MAYII 19H' Patented May 20, 1919.

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5mm/12o@ @6J/MQW' y @gw @www @wi/meco M @A /M UNITED STATES THEODORE BRIEGEL, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

METAL-BENDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented My 20, 1919.

Application filed May 11, 1917. Serial No. 167,912.

T0 all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, Trrnononn BRIEGEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock. Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new` and useful Improvements in Metal-Bending Machines, of which the following is a specication.

My invention has reference to metal bending machines, of the kind shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States numbered 1,193,7 59, issued to myself August 8th, 1916, the present device being similarly intended for the production of metal dlsplay sign-boards such as are commonly used by merchants and others for the support of metal letters in the Jformation of words for advertising their goods. A wellknown construction of such sign-boards consists in forming a sheet of metal at regular intervals with transverse loops or pockets atv such an angle to the body of the sign-board that when the same is in a vertical or substantially vertical position, as when in use, such pockets will proj ect downwardly therefrom, in position to receive and retain the supportin tongues of the letters carried on the face o the sign-board.

It has been found to be a diflicult matter to form a loop or reflex bend in a sheet of metal in one operation, on account of the liability of stretching the metal, and injuring it so that it is not suitable for the purpose for which it is intended. The chief purpose of my invention is to provide a means for forming the loop in the metal by two distinct mechanisms, acting in sequence, and yet by one simple operation of the machine. By this means I secure a simple, double bend of the metal without affecting its tenacity or consistency in any way.

Other purposes and advantages of my invention will more fully appear in the following specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying the same, in which:

Figure l is a transverse' vertical section o f a' machine embodying invention, in position ready for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof, with the parts in position when the' bendin operation is partly performed. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of my machine, inan idle position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the bending devices, in partial operation. Fig.' 5 is a similar view, with the operation completed.

Similar parts are indicated by corresponding reference characters throughout the several figures.

The main operating parts, by means of which the bending devices are actuated, are duplicated at the opposite ends of thema-- chine, and when one of such parts is referred to herein, it will be understood that both of l such parts are intended to be referred to.

The machine is provided with a pair of end frames 1, united 'by a front bed-plate 2 and rear bed-plate 3, the upper surfaces of which are on the same horizontal plane, and

said bed-plates being spaced apart for the arrangement and operation of parts hereinafter referred to. Projecting upwardly from the rear part of the frames l are standards 4c, provided with vertical slots 5 in which are movable the ends of a cross-beam 6, having at its lower edge an enlargement 7 the lower face of which is parallel with the bedplates 2.and 3. The member 7 is provided with recesses in which are secured dies 8 and 9,eXtending lengthwise of the machine for nearly the full length thereof. At the forward edge of the bed-plate 3 is Xed a die 10,

pivotally attached to the frames l, as at a.-

The free ends of the plates 15 are united by a rod 16, on the ends of which, adjacent to the plates 15, are rollers 17. Above the rod 16 a shaft 18 is rockingly mounted in the end pieces 1, and secured to said shaft near each end thereof, and in line with the rollers 16 are cams 19, having recesses 2Ov which are .normally in engagement with such rollers, as

shown in Fig. 1. Secured to the shaft 18 is a frame 21 having bifurcated ends 22 and'23l in which are secured bars 24 of a foot-lever' 25. The downward movement of the footlever operates to rock the shaft 13, causing the cam 19 to force the roller 17 and shaft 16 downwardly, also lowering the plates 15 and rods 14, and moving the cross-beam (i downwardly into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Vith a sheet of metal in position on the bed-plates, as indicated at A, the downward movement of the die 3 and rib 11 operates to form in the plate A an angular bend B. At the same time a slight crimp is formed in the metal by means of the rib l2 and recess 13.

The rod 16 is normally held in elevated position, and is returned thereto after being depressed, by means of a contractile coiled spring 26 attached at its upper end to a plate 27 on the lower face of the bed-plate 2 and connected with said rod at its lower end by a hook member 28. rlhe cam 19 is returned to its former position by means of a coiled spring 29 attached to said cam at one of its ends and at its opposite end to a pin in the frame 1. The rod 14 is preferably formed in two sections, united by a turnbuckle 30, by means of which the length of said rod can be varied, and the movement of the beam 6 with relation to the die 10 adjusted.

W'hile the sheet of metal A is securely held between the head 7 `and die 10 as above described, a reflex bend is formed therein by the following means: Supported at its ends on the frames 1 is a shaft 31, on which is rockingly mounted a curved plate 32, in the upper edge of which is fixed a die 33. Projecting from the plate 32 are arms 34, pivotally connected with which are rods 35, preferably formed in two sections united by a turn-buckle 36, and having bifurcated lower ends 37, passing on opposite sides of the frames 21. The ends 37 are provided with slots 38 engaging pins 39 in the frames 21. By this means a partial downward movement of the bars 24 and frames 21 is permitted without disturbing the rods 35. The slots 38 are of such predeteri'nined length as to permit the downward movement of the cross-beam 6, into the position shown in Fig. 2, without causing a movement of the rods 35. As the movement of the footlever continues, however, the pins 39 engage the lower ends of the slots 33, drawing the rods 35 downwardly, and moving the plate 32 and die 33 upwardly, forcing the plate A into the angle between the die 8 and rib 11, forming a. second bend C in the plate, the bends B and C being' spaced apart the thickness of the rib 11. There is thus formed in the metal plate a loop or pocket adapted to receive the tongue of a metal letter, or piece of metal containing a letter or other character, such loop being atsuch an angle to the body of the plate as to depend therefrom when the platey is in a proper position, at

such an angle as to hold the tongue of the metal letter without danger of its being accidentally released therefrom.

The upper edge of the plate is of such formation that when such plate is at the end of its upward movement such edge will he' parallel with the lower face of the head 7, as shown in Fig. 5. During the movement of the rods 35 the shaft 13 and Acams 19 continue their rocking movement, but without further action upon the rods 14, as during this part of the movement the face 40 of the cam is passing over the roller 17 without affecting the position thereof. As soon as the pressure is relieved from the foot-lever, the springs 29 return the cams Y 19 and foot-lever to their former positions, permitting the spring 26 to raise the plates 15 and cross-beam 6, in position for the operation to be continued. On account of the loop in the metal closely engaging the rib 11, the plate A is carried upwardly thereby in the upward movement of the cross-beam, but the plate being drawn forwardly by the operator quickly releases the same. The plate A is then moved rear` wardly along the bed-plates until the loop just formed therein drops in rear of the die 19, whereupon such loop is drawn tightly against the rear face of the die, as shown in Fig. 5. The thickness of the die thus furnishes a gage to determine the amount of space between the successive loops in the metal. If desired, the amount of space can be increased by placing in rear of the die a strip of metal of similar height therewith, and of any desired thickness.

The crimping of the plate A intermediate the loops by means of the rib 12 and groove 13 is chiefly for the purpose of ornamentation, and is not essential to the construction or later use of the plate.

By reason of the loop in the plate A being formed by two distinct bends or folds of the metal, the blank portion of the plate is drawn into the machine a little distance at each operation, and there is no strain or A as a guide for the edge of the plate A,

especially when signs of narrower widths are being formed. Such strip also assists in keeping the plate straight in its passage through the machine. The machine is formed. of suflicient length to receive a sheet of metal of the greatest width which is desired to be employed in the manufacture of sign-boards of the kind mentioned. rfhe preferred embodiment of my machine has been shown and described herein, buithe same is capable of numerous adaptations without departing from the spirit of the invention, and other classes of products could be formed thereby than the one mentioned herein.

What I claim as my invention, and desireI to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. In a metal-bending machine, a frame, a bed-plateJ mounted therein and provided with a central opening; a die fixed in` said bedplate at one edge of said opening and having a metal-bending face at an angle with said bed-plate; a die member vertically movable above said opening and carrying a metal-bending rib at an angle corresponding with the angle of the face of said firstnamed die, and adapted to be brought into proximity therewith to form a bend in a sheet of metal; a die member pivotally mounted in said frame and capable of forming a reflex bend in said sheet of metal; mechanism for operating said vertically movable die member; mechanism for operating said pivoted die member; and actuating devices for causing the operation of both of said last-named mechanisms, in succession, in the order mentioned.

'2. In a metal-bending machine, a frame; a bed-plate supported therein and provided with a central opening; a die member vertically movable in said frame, and provided with a metal-bending rib projected at an angle therewith; a die fixed in said bedplate adjacent to said opening, and provided with a beveled face corresponding with the angle of said rib; a pivoted die member capable of a swinging movement in said opening, and provided with operating arms; a rock-shaft journaled in said frame; plates roclringly mounted and operi tively connected with said rock-shaft; means of connection between said rock-plates and vertically movable diei member; actuating devices attached to said rock-shaft; and means of connection between said actuating devices and the arms of said pivoted die member, adapted to operate said die member following the operation of said first-named die member.

3. In a metal-bending machine, a frame; a bed-plate supported therein and provided with a central opening; a die fixed in said bed-plate adjacent said opening and provided with a face at an angle to said bedplate; a die member movable at an angle with said bed-plate and provided with a metal-bending rib at an angle corresponding with the angle of said face, and adapted to be brought into proximity thereto, to form a bend in a sheet of metal, a die member pivotally mounted and adapted to i be brought into proximity with said rib to form a re-flex bend in such sheet of metal; operating members connected with said pivoted die member; a shaft rockingly mounted in said frame; a pair of plates operatively connected withsaidrst-named die member so as to move the same toward said bed-plate or away therefrom, as desired.; means for imparting the movement of said rock-shaft to said rock-plates, to suitably actuate the same; frames attached to said rock-shaft and provided with actuating means; and connecting members between said last-named Jframes and the operating members of said pivoted die member, said connecting members having a link and pin connection with. said frames permitting a movement of said vertically movable die member preceding the operation of said pivoted die member.

4. In a metal-bending machine, a frame; a bed-plate supported therein and provided with a central opening; a movable die member provided with a metal-bending rib at an angle therewith; a die fixed in saidbed-plate adjacent the edge of said opening and having a face corresponding with said rib in angular disposition, and adapted to coperate therewith in forming a bend in a sheet of metal, a die-member pivotally mounted in said frame, provided with operating arms, and adapted to coperate with said rib to form a reiex bend in such sheet of metal; a shaft rockingly mounted in said Jframe; a pair of' rock-plates pivoted in said frame and operatively connected with said firstnamed die member; means for imparting the movement of said rock-shaft to said rock-plates, to operate the same; frames fixed to said rock-shaft and provided with outwardly projecting pins; rods pivotally connected with the operating arms of said pivoted die member and provided at their other ends with slots engaging said pins; and power applying means connected with said frames.

5. In a metal-bending machine, a frame; a bed-plate supported therein and provided with a central opening; a movable die member provided with a metal-bending rib at an angle therewith; a die fixed in said bed-plate adjacent to said opening and having a face corresponding with said rib in angular disposition, and adapted to c operate therewith in forming a bend in a sheet of metal; a die-member pivotally mounted in said frame, provided with operating arms, and adapted to coperate with said rib to form a reflex bend in such sheet of metal; a shaft rockingly mounted in said frame; a pair of rock-plates pivoted in said frame and operatively connected with said first-named die member; means for imparting the movement of said rock-shaft to said rock-plates,

to operate the same; frames Fixed to said rook-shaft and provided with power applying means; rods pivotally connected with the operating arms of said pivoted die membe1 and having a link connection With said frames, so as to be motionless during the first part of the movement of said frames; means for returningv said rock-shaft to a nor- Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the THEODORE BRIEGEL. Witnesses:

W. N. HASKELL,

HARRY WEINGART.

Commissioner et Patenti.

Wlshington, D. C. 

